Are all Masons Shriners?
No. All Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners. The Shrine is noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life– it has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness”; however, the Shrine is best known for its colorful parades, distinctive red fez’, and philanthropic work with children. The Shriners’ Hospitals for Children are often called “the heart and soul of the Shrine.” Although the Shrine adheres to the three principal tenants of Freemasonry, Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, the Shrine is not an appended body of Freemasonry, this distinction escapes far too many. To become a Shriner, one must first become a 3rd Degree Master Mason, after which many Masonic paths are available, one of which being, is the Shrine. The thing that keeps the Shrine from being an official appending body of Freemasonry is that no additional degrees are conferred
